I have been sharpening since i was 10 and was taught that marker trick from an Marine. I still use that to this day.

The inner filament of a sharpie is also a great emergency fire starter!

A good file is an asset to any sharpening regimen. After I use my file I go back with a fine wire brush to clean the "teeth" out. Cleaning out all of the metal filings, rust and dirt make the file last longer. You'll be glad you did it.

Been a Carpenter/Joiner for 45 years and I still use this technique when regrinding on site using an angle grinder.

Outstanding video Dan. Thank you. "Another Tool for the Toolbox".

I usually use a blue Sharpie for marking tools, in this case an axe. Why? Blue is an unusual color in most tools. Also red and green can be used, whichever suits your eyes.

I sharpened mine to a mirror edge with a lansky kit now I can shave with it

Fantastic content! Your "close the gap" advice is spot on, successfully sharpened garden shears👌

Well that's cool, maybe it will help me finally get better at sharpening things . I've been terrible at it my whole life despite plenty of good advice . Never developed the touch .

That marker tip is a winner. Was that a pun? One thing that I've found that the average Joe doesn't know about files is that the smaller they are, the finer they cut. That's why you find a 14" mill bastard as well as a 12",10", 8" etc. They all have the same tooth pattern (mill bastard), but the teeth are smaller and closer together and therefore leave behind a smoother finish. I like to keep a 6" mill smooth file in my kit especially for dressing the edge of my ax when it is required. You might find that a mill smooth knife edged file in 5 or 6 inches is even handier. The larger files are for rough shaping and removing nicks from the edge. Also a strip of fine sandpaper can be laid onto a small fine file that acts as a backing strip. The coarse teeth of a large file makes it less effective.

I appreciate your tips like this one. I already do the sharpie thing, learned that from knife sharpening, but over the years your videos have taught me so much. Whoever says you can't teach an old dog new tricks needs to come subscribe to your channel!!! I'm an old dog, been around more years than I like to admit, but I still learn new tricks from seasoned woodsmen like yourself. Thank you for all you do for us!

Excellent content, tone, and delivery. Thank you so much!

Thank you for making this

Holy crap Batman. Dan did it again. Another well produced video that gave me another tool for my toolbox. I’m glad I got to watch the first in this new series, or is the second because I watched the last one twice. Anyway keep up the great work.

Thank You For Sharing This Valuable Information !! Mighty DAN The Axe Man ! We Appreciate Your Hard Work.

Great video Dan

Great tip! Thanks, Dan!

Love it… great video! Thanks for doing what you do!

Thanks Dan!

Thanks, Dan!

Beautiful work

Thanks for the great info.

Another outstanding video Dan Wowak! Thank you so much for your tutorial, you’re an awesome instructor 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽❤️❤️❤️ nicely done brother!!👊🏿

Thank you

Awesome, Thanks Dan

Nice piece of advice. Now I have to dig out those old axes and the new cheap ones.

Great advice.

Thank you for this video. This is another instruction session in one of the basic skill tools of real life!

great video!

Nice info on the video... I have the exact axe... I did scrape all the lacquer coating off the handle and at top of axe... soaked it in a mixture of mineral spirits / boiled linseed oil for keeping the wood moist for longevity. Thanks ...Alan in 🇨🇱

Great video . .

Thanks for the knowledge

thank you for the sharping tips

You may find the experiment that Fire Ball Tools did with raking a file back and forth. While it cut only in one direction, the raking back didn't damage the file.

Thanks - that explained a lot.

Great tutorial.

I've always had a bit of trouble getting an edge. I'm going to try this and I'll re comment on my progress

A sharpie to make my ax sharpie!😅

Thanks

Ace stuff mate I'll try that one day

Any videos on splitting mauls? Would it be worth putting an edge?

Thanks for Sharing

Dan, if what I understand from this video, where the bevels (sides) of the blade are asymmetrical (uneven), one should file down the flat side as opposed to the convex side to obtain even bevels (sides) and hence a correct apex (point). Does that make sense? Or, perhaps I misunderstood. Take off metal on the convex (rounded) bevel to match the bevel on the other side to obtain an even apex makes so much more sense. In my opinion. Done it hundreds of times from customers that brought me their axes, both box store and high end, to sharpen. Yes, I have "an axe to grind"; I am a professional sharpener and an outdoors man for over 50 years. Good basic instructional video, though. Cheers 🍁🍺

Tomorrows project. My woman just inherited an old Estwing axe that is in bad shape. It was her fathers, and she wants it restored. I need some better files anyway and can walk my puppy to the home depot to get in some exercise and socialization (for the dog - I'm mostly ok now). Then I can use my new work bench to file the axe. I love it when a project checks off so many things at one time.

I took one of those harbor freight axes and reheat treated the edge about an inch up, it ended up being pretty ok

Cheap way to practice and not feel bad if you screw it up.

Parabéns pelo vídeo. Boas vibrações

My cheap axe used to be a Council Tool Flying Fox, until the price increased. Mine came sharp as I needed it to be. The price didn't increase enough that I'd recommend a different axe. Plus, you can throw it, and it has a hardened poll.

Great tip! The only thing I need is one of them files

Fantastic!!!Now show us how to sharpen knives and scissors. I hate having to throw away scissors!!!

Nice video. Is there ever a time a convex profile would be better?

Excellent video and information as always, but I do have a question. My understanding is that axes usually have a convex grind so the edge can withstand the pounding they get. Wouldn't you be better off using a puck to maintain the grind instead of filling the edge flat?

I guess it's called a sharpie for a reason.

Good, useful information. Thanks. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

Now that it's sharp, how do you pack it safely?

How do you feel about handles on your file?

Thank you so much for your video, I was having so much trouble sharpening my ax. I need a good file. What was the name of your file again? Love ya bruh.

Do you have to file in the opposite direction if you're left handed considering the file can be ruined if it's done the wrong way??

this guy married? lol hes a gem !!

Now scrape the varnish off and oil the handle..!! It will make a decent cheap camp axe..!!

It kills me how much he looks like Woogie (theres something about mary)

Maybe drive the file into a tree stump or a tree itself and work the ax on the file instead of the other way what do yall think

Once you master the art of Stinkeye, you needent marker nor file. Rookie.

🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓

And no c.c. 😢

Hump? What hump?

Handle for file .4 the kids and not skilled

Is it me or is there no sound???

Don’t ever buy anything from Harbor freight. Being cheap can cost you in the long run.

Worst video yet to date to much talking for sure.